The warning over contaminated public water supplies in Galway city and parts of Galway county has been extended to south Mayo and to all drinking water sourced from Lough Corrib.
Galway County Council also intends to disconnect one of its contaminated public water systems in north Galway and to buy a replacement supply of some 300,000 gallons of water a day from a private group water scheme.
There are 112 confirmed cases in Galway city and county of the gastrointestinal illness associated with the cryptosporidium parasite found in the contaminated water. A precautionary "boil water" notice was updated a week ago when it was confirmed that the parasite, linked to human and animal faeces, had been traced in public water supplies in Headford, Co Galway, and Terryland in Galway city. The local authorities and HSE West have been trying to trace the source of the contamination.
The notice extending to south Mayo was issued on March 16th and HSE West says it was made public - although the authority made no reference to it at a press briefing in Galway last week.
It says that no cases of the illness have been reported in Mayo and no traces of the parasite have been found in water systems there. However, the precautionary advice applies to drinking water sourced in Lough Corrib - specifically, the Cong public water schemes and all associated group schemes, and the Glencorrib and Funshinaugh/Cross group schemes.
Jim Cullen, the council's director of services, confirmed last night that work was under way to disconnect Headford from the contaminated public water supply and to link it into the Caherlistrane-Kilcoona group water scheme, which has recently been upgraded.
"Within a number of days, we'll certainly have the water flowing. But we will have to go through a process of testing and sampling to prove the integrity of the scheme and we'll have to get a series of clear water results, coupled with advice from the HSE, that will lead to the lifting of the boil notice," he said.
The council denied water rationing may take place in Galway city in an effort to reduce reliance on the contaminated Terryland waterworks.